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Our take on the Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus
by Crutchfield's Dave Bar

Cambridge Audio set the benchmark for sound quality and value when they introduced the original DacMagic digital-to-analog converter. It helped music lovers significantly upgrade the sound from their computers, game consoles, network music players, or any other device with a digital audio output. Now Cambridge has raised the bar even higher with their latest offering, the DacMagic Plus. This impressive new DAC offers more features and flexibility than its predecessor, including a dedicated headphone amp for private listening, upgraded USB input capability, and optional Bluetooth® wireless connectivity.

Add more magic to your music

Cambridge Audio set the benchmark for sound quality and value when they introduced the original DacMagic digital-to-analog converter. It helped music lovers significantly upgrade the sound from their computers, game consoles, network music players, or any other device with a digital audio output. Now Cambridge has raised the bar even higher with their latest offering, the DacMagic Plus. This impressive new DAC offers more features and flexibility than its predecessor, including a dedicated headphone amp for private listening, upgraded USB input capability, and optional Bluetooth® wireless connectivity.

Connect the DacMagic Plus between your music source's digital audio output and your receiver, amp, or powered speakers, and this versatile DAC will bypass the one inside your PC or player — magically transforming those cold hard zeroes and ones into warm, organic sound. You'll immediately experience greater dynamic impact and transparency, with instruments and vocals standing out from each other to occupy their own distinct space.

More magic on the inside than ever

The DacMagic Plus comes packed with advanced circuitry designed to extract the best possible sound from all your digital sources. Twin Wolfson DACs are used in a dual differential configuration to cancel out noise and distortion while providing excellent stereo imaging. Cambridge's sophisticated Adapted Time Filter 2 technology upsamples all incoming digital audio to a 24-bit/384kHz signal in order to resolve extremely fine detail. The end result is dramatically improved sound from every digital source in your system.

Now with the asynchronous USB advantage

Standard USB outputs from most computers pose a serious limitation to sound quality. That's because while you're trying to listen to music, your PC is busy performing virus scans, data backup, and other background tasks that may take priority over your tunes, causing it to alter the data rate to suit its own needs. Unfortunately, this situation results in timing errors within the digital data stream — known as "jitter" — that adversely affect sound quality. Jitter can make your music sound harsh and edgy, and smear subtle details.

The newly re-designed DacMagic Plus solves this problem by reaching out to your computer through the USB interface, and instructing it to relinquish control of the data stream timing. In its place, this advanced DAC inserts its own separate, or asynchronous, clock to precisely control the timing of the data rate, reducing jitter to the vanishing point. You'll hear a stunning improvement in low-level ambient detail along with a wider, deeper soundstage.

Enjoy high-resolution USB audio

Along with all the sonic benefits the DacMagic Plus provides for your compressed and CD-quality music files, it also has another trick up its sleeve — it decodes high-resolution data streams with up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution through its USB connection, so you can enjoy better-than-CD audio quality. (Free USB driver download required for Windows® PCs.) If you download high-res music files from HDtracks and other audiophile sources, this DAC will ensure that you hear them in all their glory.

Other audiophile features

Cambridge Audio also included some neat features guaranteed to appeal to audiophiles. A choice of three digital filters lets you tweak and fine-tune the sound to match your system and room. The DacMagic Plus lets you experiment with different filter settings for each source, always remembering the last setting assigned to each one. A phase inversion switch lets you correct for out-of-phase recordings or amplifiers that invert phase. Cambridge even included an incoming sample rate indicator which shows the original source quality.

Plenty of connections for your gear

two coaxial digital inputs: ideal for connecting a CD or DVD player, Logitech Squeezebox™ Touch, Sonos® Connect, or any other digital audio component with coax out, and taking advantage of the DacMagic Plus's high-performance processor for better sound.

two optical digital inputs: ready to take on almost any HDTV, set-top box, game console, or other digital sources with optical digital output, and feed a high-quality audio signal into your stereo system.

A pair of gold-plated RCA outputs lets you connect the DacMagic Plus to your home audio system's receiver or integrated amp. Or feed a set of powered speakers for a high-end, compact desktop stereo. The built-in volume control even lets you connect a power amp directly, using the DacMagic Plus as a preamp. Cambridge Audio also included a pair of balanced XLR outputs for an even higher-quality hookup with compatible audio components. A full-size headphone jack lets you take advantage of the DAC's built-in headphone amp for private listening. Optical and coaxial digital outputs allow you to bypass the DacMagic Plus when you're playing surround sound from a Blu-ray or DVD player, so you don't have to change cable connections when you switch from music to movies.

Use the BT100 Bluetooth audio adapter for wireless digital transmission to the DacMagicPlus.

High-quality sound with wireless convenience

You can also go cable-free with Cambridge Audio's optional plug-and-play BT100 Bluetooth® wireless audio receiver. This receiver lets you stream music wirelessly from your iPhone®, Android™ smartphone, iPad®, tablet, laptop or any device that supports Bluetooth audio. Best of all, if your smartphone, tablet, or computer supports high-end CSR aptX® Bluetooth audio, you can stream near CD-quality music from your device to the DacMagic Plus.

Featured Video

Average Review:

It is amazing how much a good DAC can warm up digital sources. I run my CD player, android tablet, and android phone through this DAC and it sounds great! There is a choice of 3 slopes and each works well depending on the source being played. Money well spent.

Horizontal or Vertical Placement: The DacMagic Plus can be placed in two
different positions (horizontal or vertical). It can be placed horizontally by
fitting the four small self-adhesive rubber feet to the bottom of the unit, or
vertically by using the large rubber base.

Controls

Phase Filter Select: The DacMagic Plus's 32-bit DSP employs Cambridge
Audio's own proprietary digital filter algorithms with three different filter
options available - Linear Phase, Minimum Phase, and Steep. Controlled from one
switch on the front-panel, they are extremely clever audiophile topologies
specifically developed for audio playback and all offer excellent sound quality,
but differ slightly to appeal to a wide range of listening tastes.

Linear Phase Filter: The Linear Phase Filter is the same as used
in Cambridge Audio's flagship Azur 840C upsampling CD player. It uniquely
features 'constant group delay' which delays all audio signals at all
frequencies by the same amount - meaning all audio is fully time-coherent at
the output.

Minimum Phase Filter: The Minimum Phase Filter does not feature
constant group delay, but rather has been optimized without feed-forward so
that the impulse response exhibits no pre-ringing in the time domain. Many
audiophiles have argued that the pre-ringing, as seen in nearly all digital
filter designs, may affect the transient attack of percussive instruments.
Minimum phase implementation eliminates this and is a technology only seen
previously in some extremely high-end CD playback systems

Steep Filter: The steep filter removes undistinguishable
artifacts via re-calibration for a very slight roll-off at 20kHz, but an
ultra-steep drop to the stop-band just after 20kHz.

Note: These three filters are all of the highest quality, but
offer subtle differences for the user to enjoy. The type of filter chosen is
remembered for each input individually, so that it is possible to use one
for PC playback (via USB) and another for CD playback (via SPDIF).

Digital Preamp Mode: The Digital Preamp Mode is used to connect the
DacMagic directly to a separate power amplifier or active speakers. The DacMagic
Plus is supplied as default with Digital Preamp mode enabled. In this mode, the
output from the Unbalanced and Balanced audio outputs is controlled by the front
panel Volume control. If you wish to disable this mode (and have fixed
line-level level output from the Unbalanced and Balanced Audio outputs) switch
the DacMagic Plus off, then push and hold the Volume control in while switching
the DacMagic Plus on.

Ground/Lift Switch: When Grounded, the DacMagic Plus is connected to
the earth connection of the PC directly. When Lifted the ground connection is
made via a network designed to break any hum loops that may be caused by the
source equipment. The Grounded setting is recommended, unless audible hum is
experienced

Connections

USB Port: A rear-panel 24-bit/192kHz USB (type-B) port enables the DacMagic Plus to be
connected to your Windows PC or Mac computer. The DacMagic Plus will act as a very
high-quality DAC/sound-card with very low jitter for your computer, offering genuine Hi-Fi-quality
playback from your stored music and Internet radio. The DacMagic Plus is
both USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) and USB 1.1 (Full-speed) USB port compatible. It will
also work with the new USB 3.0 ports where the PC will simply treat the DacMagic
Plus as if it were a USB 2.0 or 1.1 device.

PC Compatible: With the DacMagic Plus switched to USB Audio 1.0
(this is the default setting), the DacMagic Plus will work with the native
Windows XP, Vista or 7 Audio 1.0 driver (no need to load any new driver) and
accept audio up to 24-bit/96kHz. With the DacMagic Plus switched to USB
Audio 2.0, the DacMagic Plus needs the Cambridge Audio USB Audio 2.0 Driver
to be loaded and can then accept up to 24-bit/192kHz (and support ASIO and
WASAPI Exclusive if required).

Mac Compatible: No extra drivers are required to connect your Mac
computer. With the DacMagic Plus switched to USB Audio 1.1, the
DacMagic Plus will work with the native Mac OS-X 10.5 (Leopard) or above
Audio 1.0 driver and accept audio up to 24/96kHz. With the DacMagic Plus
switched to USB Audio 2.0 the DacMagic Plus works with the native Mac OS-X
10.5 (Leopard) or above Audio 2.0 driver and can accept audio up to
24/192kHz.

Digital Inputs: The DacMagic Plus is fitted with two rear-panel
24-bit digital
inputs. Each digital input consists of an optical and coaxial digital
connection. The optical and coaxial digital input allow a wide range of digital
source (CD, DVD, Game Console, etc.) to be connected to the DacMagic Plus.

Note: Only one of the two types (optical/coaxial) of each digital
input should be connected at any one time. If both the optical and coaxial
inputs have connections made to them, neither will work. This unit only
decodes two-channel LPCM digital audio (Dolby Digital 2.0). If you connect a
DVD or similar device, please ensure that the audio output of the player is
set to two-channel PCM.

Note: Both the optical and coaxial digital outputs are
always active and can be used to connect and run equipment at the same time.
A 5.1 Dolby Digital or DTS signal can be passed through the unit's digital
outputs. The 5.1ch signal is not decoded or processed (only pass-through).

Balanced & Unbalanced Outputs: The Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus features
both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) audio outputs to connect to a wide
variety of home stereo receivers and amplifiers.

Balanced: The DacMagic Plus features true balanced XLR analog audio
outputs to connect high-end home receivers and amplifiers. XLR is a
higher-quality output that can reject noise and interference with equipment
with balanced inputs.

Note: It is possible to use the unbalanced stereo RCA output and
the balanced XLR outputs at the same time for connecting two different
amplifiers or multi-room operation. The analog audio outputs are muted, if
the DacMagic Plus receives a 5.1 Dolby Digital or DTS signal.

Headphone Output: The DacMagic Plus' front-panel headphone output
(1/4") allows for personal listening from your set of high quality headphones.
When headphones are connected, the headphone volume can be adjusted using the
volume knob. This is always independent of the level of the balanced or
unbalanced audio outputs.

Bluetooth Ready: Simply plug in the optional Cambridge Audio BT100
Bluetooth Audio Receiver (779BT100, sold separately) into the DacMagic Plus'
rear-panel USB (type-A) port for wireless music streaming from many of today's
most popular Bluetooth supporting devices; such as iPod touch, iPhone, iPad,
Android smartphone, Android tablet, and Mac or Windows PC. The BT100 even
supports the high-quality Bluetooth aptX CODEC, so you can stream audiophile
quality music from your Bluetooth-enabled source device to the DacMagic Plus.

Note: Due to the differences in Bluetooth technology,
some Bluetooth enabled devices may be incompatible, function improperly, or
may not support all features when used with the DacMagic Plus.

Power Requirements: The Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus operates
off of standard household AC current,
using the supplied AC power adapter. The external power adapter
is separate from the digital-analog-converter to further improve sound quality.

Input: 100-240V~50/60Hz,
0.55A

Output: 12V - 2A

Note: The supplied AC power adapter includes AC power plug inserts
for North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom.

Dimensions

Horizontal Orientation:

Width = 8.5"

Height = 2.0625" (2.1875" with feet)

Depth = 9.3125

Vertical Orientation: (with stand)

Width = 3.125"

Height = 9.125"

Depth = 9.375"

Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team. They verify what’s in the box, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Finely tuned sound for finely tuned ears

I had a chance to try the DacMagic Plus out in our Labs with some different speaker and headphone options (as well as a variety of sound sources). If you're the type of person who prefers uncompressed audio files to lossy formats, then the higher level of performance that the DacMagic Plus offers is probably for you.

The DacMagic Plus gave me some control over the incoming signal. I could change the phase, as well as select the filters, for example. And the unit displayed the sampling rate (which can be good to know). Control is great, but results are better - and they were results I could hear. I deliberately played some 128kbps MP3s, and they didn't sound too bad.

But it was the high-resolution audio tracks that the DacMagic was made for. I listened to some HD Tracks, some WAV files, and some Apple Lossless tracks, and heard an extraordinary amount of detail in all three. Plus, the sound didn't seem to have any of the slight digital harshness that I often perceive when I listen to my digital music library.

Customer Q&A

Crutchfield askedWhy did you buy this?

Cambridge Audio quality and great digital sound. This choice was very easy to make, made my ears very happy!
[ B Aug 10, 2018 ]

liked the features
[ Wade Aug 09, 2018 ]

Connectivity options with this unit are far more extensive than anything else in this price range.
[ ERIK S Jul 22, 2018 ]

Building streaming music headphone system
[ Peter May 23, 2018 ]

looking for a high quality dac. cambridge is good stuff
[ michael Apr 15, 2018 ]

sound quality (reviews)
[ SANJEEV Apr 10, 2018 ]

I wanted a DAC to help improve the playback quality of my digital audio files. This model had a ton of great reviews and a steep price break. I also ordered the optional BT wireless adapter to stream from my iPhone.
[ German Oct 05, 2017 ]

I use it with my home built PC and my Grado headphones. Outstanding sound especially when listening to HD music
[ Robert Jul 13, 2017 ]

appears to meet my needs.
[ WARREN Jul 11, 2017 ]

After much research and reading reviews.
[ Bill Jun 21, 2017 ]

Recommended by Chad in Crutchfield. I found it very economical and it was what I wanted.
[ Pedro Jun 07, 2017 ]

mostly based on the Cambridge audio video, and the rave reviews on your site. Hope it lives up to the reviews!
[ Ken Jan 24, 2017 ]

My current on-board audio of my desktop is poor. Makes the quality coming out of my headphones sound really lame when I've heard excellent audio quality come out of my headphones when plugged into an amplifier. I have a lot of digital audio files that would greatly benefit from the dac when outputted to my headphones or speakers. I also plan to add an amp and a good set of speakers to round out a little audio setup that will last me for many years.
[ Ted Sep 28, 2016 ]

you let me try two different DAC's which allowed me to be very satisfied with my purchase. in my opinion great value for the price. i am continuing to enjoy it.
[ William Jul 17, 2016 ]

To add pre-amp component integration to my boat's system and to clean up source audio from my computer, TV and DVD. It is fantastic!
[ David May 25, 2016 ]

I have this connected to my iMac with Audioengine A5+ speakers, and when I stream from Tidal, WOW!!! Great DAC with multiple input connections and uses. I'm a simple person who just wants awesome sound when it comes to my music and this DAC delivers on all points...
[ Aaron Jan 03, 2016 ]

I already have one. I need an additional on. Good product, great store.
[ experimentalist Jan 08, 2018 ]

your team helped me pick the right item.
[ Dianne Dec 19, 2017 ]

I have two Tivo's and a lower end CD player. A stand alone DAC would improve the audio immensely. after much research and comparison shopping the DacMagic Plus was the most cost effective and filled my technical requirements. I have used Crutchfield in the past and have never been disappointed (OPPO 105D)
[ melvin h. Oct 31, 2017 ]

USED IT BEFORE
[ ROY Oct 17, 2017 ]

Need it for use with a Pioner Elite CD player model # PD-S95
[ John G. May 28, 2017 ]

The ability to use this component as a preamp combined with its small size enables me to drive a power amplifier from the convenience of my desk.
[ Barry May 17, 2017 ]

Great sound and a lot of capability for the price. (bang for the buck)
[ PHILIP Feb 24, 2017 ]

excellent DAC, have had for 2years
[ MIKE M Dec 22, 2016 ]

Cambridge offers good products at a reasonable price. You can pay a lot more for a DAC, but with diminishing returns. I have the simpler DAC Magic 100, but anticipate the Plus model, with volume control, will help me modulate the DAC output to my preamp. Crutchfield offers fair prices, fast delivery and good support.
[ Kenneth Nov 09, 2016 ]

Any digital signal that is run through this device is upsampled. The sound quality of this device is exceptional. If you really want to test just how good this device is, I urge you to use a mp3 or wav file from a computer. Use the mini plug on your computer and run it by cable to your receiver. Then, after listening to that, run the same file through this DAC using usb. Notice the extreme difference in sound quality, stereo imaging, etc.
[ DAVID Apr 17, 2018 ]

I am using the optical Inputs and the lights illuminate just fine. If you opt for this unit your ears will pleased.
[ Warren Apr 12, 2018 ]

Not quite sure about this, but I think it is always working and giving the information
[ Pedro Apr 12, 2018 ]

Yes on the optical/coaxial inputs.
However, it will not downmix 5.1 to stereo from a set-top-box (which is indicative of DAC's)
FYI, nice little package, works nicely as a preamp, in many other applications.
[ DOUGLAS Apr 12, 2018 ]

You can use the two optical inputs as you have outlined. On the front panel you can select Digital 1 and Digital 2 to identify your source. For Digital 1, you have the option of either a coaxial or optical connection and the same for Digital 2. So in your setup, the airport express would be connected to the optical input under Digital 1 and the tv connected to the optical input under Digital 2.
[ Chris Feb 12, 2018 ]

Both can be plugged in. I have one connected to a DVD player and one connected to a CD player. This unit is a jewel. Really improves compressed music sound quality.
[ Warren Feb 11, 2018 ]

I haven't actually tried this but the description on page 15 of the DacMagic Plus owners manual indicates that only one of the two inputs (USB and optical) for each of the two channels can be used at a time, otherwise both inputs are disabled. I believe that the unit will operate as you wish if a USB input is connected to one channel and an optical input is connected to the other channel.
[ DAVID Feb 11, 2018 ]

it was easy. it has greatly enhanced my hearing of dialogue on my laptop, tv and my Klipsch mini system. i have hearing aides and i use Sennheiser ear phones out of the Cambridg DAC. it makes for a win-win for me.
[ JAMES M Dec 09, 2017 ]

Very easy!! I am successful using a standard printer usb cable as well as a Toslink to Mini Toslink Digital Optical cable (in MB Pro's headphone jack). The MB automatically recognizes the DacMagic Plus so I don't have to go to Audio MIDI settings.
[ Michael Dec 09, 2017 ]

A piece of cake. Just a USB cable and you're all set.
[ David Dec 08, 2017 ]

I do not know the impedance range of phones the amp will power, but it runs my Sennheiser HD280 Pros well which are 64 ohms. Hope this helps.
[ David Jul 25, 2017 ]

The user manual indicates that headphones with an impedance between 32 and 600 ohms are recommended.
[ DAVID Jul 25, 2017 ]

Sorry I don't use the headphone feature..but I m really in love with the sound I get from this unit out of my speakers running the signal path thru this device has enhanced my system greatly whether watching concerts on YouTube via TV or my PC or using any other device like a CD player etc.
[ Jaylan Jul 25, 2017 ]

Allows for the connection of headphones with a 1/4" jack plug connector. Headphones with an impedance of between 32 and 600 ohms are recommended.
[ Bill Jul 25, 2017 ]

I first bought the BT 100 Bluetooth adapter. Yes , it does work well. And it's very convenient. However, seeing the MIDI USB input on the back, I thought it would be interesting to try. Received my MIDI USB to lightening cable today. Plugged in my iPhone X using high quality Apple Music and it works perfectly. And, in my opinion, the sound quality is significantly improved. To the point of...wow! In my opinion. Well worth the $20 for the experiment.
[ Gary Oct 10, 2018 ]

No you can't plug in directly with the lightening/USB cable that comes with the device. I use the optional Bluetooth receiver (Cambridge Audio BT100) to connect all such devices and it works very well, plus its wireless.
[ David Apr 15, 2017 ]

Hi Anthony -- yes you can, but I recommend getting their Bluetooth receiver and plug that in. The connection in my house is flawless, and I use it to stream music from my iPhone and Mac. I've done comparison tests, and the sound quality is actually better than a connected PC. Enjoy!
[ Sean Apr 15, 2017 ]

Hello Anthony,
There is an included Bluetooth adapter that allows for Bluetooth connection. That's what I use with my IOS devices.
[ Bill Apr 15, 2017 ]

You will want to contact an Advisor by phone or online chat to discuss compatibility with your current gear. They will be able to check the specs and see if this will integrate. If it does not, then they will also be able to discuss other options with you.
[ Jeff Dec 31, 2013 ] Staff

Yes it does. Just to let you know this is a great unit. It make's a very big difference. I use it with my Tidal music service and my CD player. I have the unit plugged into my McItosh C30 pre-amp. It made a very big improvement.
[ Craig Jul 28, 2017 ]

Yes, it controls the RCA analog outputs. Results are amazing when paired with an NA-208a amp from Napa Acoustic. Vibrant crystal clear CDs, and a huge improvement with compressed music. It takes both the signal processing in this little gem and the vacuum tubes in the 208a to get the compressed music improvement.
[ Warren Jul 27, 2017 ]

I don't think it does. If the volume can affect the rear digital outputs, then there whould not be a dap function, however, the one with unbalanced I think it should, but I have only used this excellent equipment for use as a DAP and no other than a headphone amplifier, in which the volume also works as a volume.
[ Pedro Jul 27, 2017 ]

yes, I have to remember to turn the volumn knob up full blast to get volume
[ WARREN Jul 26, 2017 ]

Yes. I use the xlr outs with fixed volume on the computer and use the volume knob
[ JAY Jul 26, 2017 ]